Exhibitor.



1. J. THOLE.

EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4. 191s.

11;,231A55, Patented June 26, 1917.

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J. J. THOLE.

EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4. 19:5.

1 ,Q3 1 A55 o Patented June 26, 1917.

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JOSEPH JAMES THOLE, 0F LANGFORD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

EXHIBITOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed August 4, 1915. Serial No. 43,623.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr J AMES THOLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Langford, in the coimty of Marshall and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibitors, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to an exhibitor, and more particularly to a device for displaying figures, letters or the like, such as are commen on automobile design tags.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device of the character above mentioned which may be used during the day or at night, a suitable so-called curtain being provided having numerals, letters or the like thereon, said curtain being opaque, and a transparent wall having openings therein corresponding with the numbers, letters or the like, a suitable light being provided to display said numbers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, strong and durable, and advantageous in use.

' With the above and other objects in View my invention resides preferably in the con struction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my im proved display device showing the same with the curtain raised.

Fig. 2 is a similar view curtain in lowered position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the manner of forming the transparent plate.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section in detail showing the mounting of the transparent plate and the formation of the retaining means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail in perspec tive showing the end construction of the strips which constitute the flexible curtain and the means for connecting the same.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein the preferred showing the embodiment of my invention is illustrated, I provide a housing 1, the rear wall'of which is substantially parabolic in contour. A suitable supporting bracket 2 is carried by said housing 1. The side walls of said housing 1 are designated 3, and the front of said housing is closed by a hinged wall 4 which carries the matter to be displayed. The front wall 4 may be hinged at the top and bottom as indicated at 5 and 6, respectively, so as to facilitate its entire removal when desired. The side walls 3 may be provided with suitable side openings 7 having the usual colored glass therein. A suitable light source 8 is disposed in the housing 1, as shown to advantage in Fig. 3, and may be, as shown, an ordinary incandescent electric lamp.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the manner of forming the front Wall 4 to display matter is shown. As shown in these figures, suitable apertures are provided in the wall 4 by striking reversely bent flanges 9 therefrom, said flanges receiving a transparent plate 10 conforming to the shape of the matter to be displayed.

The structure described in the foregoing is adapted for use in darkness, and for use in day light I have provided a curtain designated generally 11, said curtain being supported from a spring controlled roller 12. A suitable bracket support 13 extends from the housing 1 in which the trunnions 14 of the roller 12 are journaled. Suitable guide flanges 15 are provided on the bracket 13 to receive the curtain 11 when in the position shown in Fig. 2. The curtain preferably consists of a plurality of strips 16, said strips lying parallel and being connected by flexible members 17. The matter to be displayed is painted or otherwise fixed on the strips 16 as as shown at 18. The construction of the strips forming the curtain 11 is shown to advantage in Fig. 6. The strips 16 are provided with struck-up portions 19 and curved portions 20, said portions providing ways through which the flexible mem bers 17 may be threaded. A suitable hook or the like 21 may be carried by the lowermost strip of said curtain 11 for maintaining the same in the position shown in Fig. 3.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention should be readily gathered. It will be noted that the device may be adapted for use in displaying license numbers and is adapted for use in darkness or in daylight.

The device need not be used in connection with displaying license numbers but may be used in conjunction with locomotive headlights for indicating the number of the 10- comotive on which the same is placed.

While I have shown and described my invention as possessing a peculiar form and construction, it is desired that it be under stood that I may make such changes in the details thereof that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what -I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An exhibitor including a support, a roller journaled on the support, a curtain connected to the roller, the curtain comprisroller journaled on the support, and a curtain connected to the roller, the curtain comprising parallel strips having depressions provided with apertured protuberances said protuberances receiving connecting elements.

In testlmony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of two wltnesses.

JOSEPH JAMES THOLE.

lVitnesses' A. J. ANDERSON, P. H. GILBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

